Blog Posts

Gear up for Spring – Gill Promotion

Gear up for spring with this great promotion from Gill. You can redeem your free gifts on qualifying...

NOR for NAC

The Notice of Race is posted for the 2012 J/105 North American Championship at San Diego YC...

O'Neill 2012 Worldcup Kite Boarding

I'm currently at the O'Neill 2012 Worldcup Kite Boarding event in The Hague as chairman of...

Playing Hurt

The only American sport that I follow at all regularly is baseball. My wife is somewhat disdainful...

(pillow)Case of the Week (20/12) - 13

(This is an instalment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Case book 2009-2012 with amendments...

Letter from Bob Schwartz, J109 Class President

Fellow J109 Sailors, It is an honor and a privilege to be the newly elected president of our...

Playing with Friends

A few weeks ago I mentioned that this month I was going to be participating in National Blog...

Owen

My mother never had the chance to meet her great-grandson Owen before she died. I love this...

Playing with Mum

I wonder what I did to my Mum to provoke her to hang me upside down over the veranda railing?...

How to Speak Ro Dylin

Packet Night

Packet Night is this Wednesday, May 16th, at Troop I on Franklin Street.The meeting starts...

Sailing Instructions Now Posted

Sailing Instructions for Tuesday and Wednesday Nights can now be downloaded from this website.Note...

How to Play Sailing

There's Gonna Be Fireworks...

Steilacoom Fireworks. Photo courtesy Dwaine Trummert. Summer is here! I've attached an Indepence...

Lucky Number Seven

A quick recap regarding the completed Spring Series is in order before the glowing report about...

Portsmouth/Laser Race One Report

Lasers (and a Finn) on Parade. Photo courtesy Jim Findley. I hope everyone had as much fun...

Seattle Thistles - Racing report for May 11

After a sunny, sort of lazing-around race last Wednesday, we were back to torrential rain,...

Seattle Thistles - Racing report for May 4 2011

Finally some sunshine and warm temps, though a little more wind would have been pleasant. Lots...

Seattle Thistles - Racing report for Apr 27 2011

Okay, we're unfortunately heading in the wrong direction, season-wise. The first week of racing...

Perfect Practice

While unrigging my boat I think back on what we learned and admire this view. The last three...

Seattle Thistles - Racing report for Apr 20 2011

Okay, we're supposed to race in the northerly on _sunny_ days, you know, warm summer days when...

Awesome first night of racing for Seattle Thistles in 2011!

Race report for CYC Lake Washington Wednesday Night Thistles: April 13, 2011 Ten boats...

Tiller Time

Beach Boats seen recently at the Dead Man's Island 360 Laser distance race. Just two bits...

Here Comes the Sailing Season

Here Comes the Sun Summer can't be too far away can it? When will we see the sun again? I...

Something Good is Happening

The Budd Inlet One Design fleet has taken another step forward. Although at least one attendee...

Olympia Area Sailors Speak

The view from Tugboat Annies while sipping a post race beer. It's hard to tell if Budd Inlet...

Seattle Thistle Fleet 2010 Retrospective

At the fleet party and meeting in December, I was elected fleet captain for 2011. Before looking...

Is Budd Inlet Ready for a One-Design Dinghy Fleet?

As an excuse to enjoy a few warm sunny days I found an assignment at U.S. Sailing's One Design...

Teamwork

Sailing season is over. It happens every fall, but not because of the change in weather, but...

On Not Being Shipwrecked

  Doug and I have been racing small sailboats on and off together for about twelve years,...

Video blog: Thistle 3957 Lake Washington Seattle July 28 2010 Race 2 part 1 of 2

Part 1 of 2. This video starts about 1 minute before the start of the second race on 7/28/10,...

Video blog: Thistle 3957 Lake Washington Seattle July 28 2010 Race 2 part 2 of 2

Part 2 of 2.  This segment picks up just as we're about to round the windward mark. Michael...

Good Crew, Bad Crew

Maybe as a way to say 'Thanks', the BISF regulars have agreed to hold a 'Crew Race' on certain...

Almost

Yep. Almost. We almost looked brilliant. We had almost as much speed as the other guy. A podium...

How to Race a J24 Video Homework

I spend the last few months studying out how to race a J24. There are lots of videos on YouTube...

Introduction, Thistles and J24s

MouseTrap Tied Up I’ve been racing a Thistle for more than 10 years now. This year I’ve...

Ping

My arrival to the marina included a surprise. Breeze. I hadn't taken the time to check Windtrak...

Ken Lane 3995 Wins Leschi Thistle Spring Series

The Leschi spring series ended the way it began, with a sunny northerly 8-12. Happily, it was...

Monday Night Kick Off on Budd Inlet

The Budd Inlet Star Fleet Monday evening racing season has officially begun. Andy, who has...

Black Star Regatta Day 2

Day two of the Black Star Regatta started with bright sun and a forecast for little or no wind. ...

Welcome to the Star Boat

The Budd Inlet Star Fleet hosted their first regatta of the year on the last weekend of April....

Leschi Spring Series 2010 May 5

The NWS forecast was for north 10 knots, but it rained off an on during the day and the temp...

Leschi Spring Series 2010 April 28

With ominous clouds and rain showers all about, the Thistle fleet somehow managed to stay dry...

Leschi Spring Series April 21 No Wind, Team Photo

No wind tonight, so no racing. After a lot of rain this morning, the  skies cleared to...

Thistle Racing Leschi April 14 Season Opener

Only five boats showed up for opening night, but those that did (3703, 3994, 3957, 3940, 3785)...

Rules Seminar: Ten Points Taken

Tonight Jim Ryan, US Sailing Certified Judge held a rules seminar at the club. I have attended...

Silly Laser Tricks #3

Once you have mastered Silly Laser Tricks #1 and #2, you can play another way by wakeboarding...

Yachting Cup

Yachting Cup sailed out of San Diego Yacht Club on May 12 had something for just about everybody....

Osprey - Ultimate Fisher

Amazing! Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Scary Play

Sometimes play can be scary. In a good way. Why do we like play that scares us? Regular readers...

Plato on Play

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play  than in a year of conversation."...

Meet Bob Keese, Scalloper

Playing with Grandkids

This weekend I did something that I have done before, but not very often. I chose to spend...

Kincsem Wins AYC Spring

Kincem took the lead in the AYC Springs Series on Saturday and narrowly held on on Sunday to...

Annapolis NOOD Regatta

James Rathbun from Fleet 4 in Canada sailed a consistent 2,2,1,3 to win the Annapolis NOOD...

2016 Olympics

Silly Laser Tricks #2

Once you have mastered yesterday's Silly Laser Trick #1, you can have more fun with your Laser,...

Silly Laser Tricks #1

The Laser is a superb little toy. No other toy has ever given me such pleasure. There are...

2012 WPSA Sunfish Racing Instructions

WPSA Sunfish Racing Rules Wet Pants Association Sunfish Fleet 2012 Spring Sunfish Series 2012...

Invitation Sneekweek for Sailors

Invitation to come to the Sneekweek 2012 The Royal Sailingclub Sneek (KWS) has organized this...

Juneau Wins SORC Round Island Race

The SORCs (Solo Ocean Racing Club) Solo Round the Isle of Wight race had a total of 31 yachts...

AYC Spring Series

The annual spring rite of passage for the start of the Long Island Sound offshore sailing season...

Don't Stop Playing

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old.  We grow old because we stop playing.” ...

J/105 on Sailing Magazine cover

Check out the May issue of Sailing Magazine, which features a J/105 on the cover!

Boat Scenario 2012 04 Released

News from Thibaut: By boats on Sunday, April 22 2012, 08:21 - Release   ...

Manhattan Regatta Update

11 boats so far, can we make it at least a dirty dozen? There is a great mix of Fleet 6 and...

Bloggers at Play

Play  Verb: Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or...

Hitler Learns His Summer Plans in Newport are Ruined!

Play with Intensity

The Laser is a strict one-design class. The Laser class rules say that "the Laser shall be...

Kind hearted sailor needed (Mystic Area in CT)

I just saw this post on Bone on its Teeth whose author found this request on Craigslist. I...

I'm Going off the Rails on the Crazy Train

Whooshing Sound

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." - Douglas Adams There's...

Summer Nights in Bohuslän

Just stumbled across another entry in last month's group writing project Top Sailing Destination...

Sailing Families at Play

Sailing is many things. It is adventure. It is challenge. It is competition. It is exercise....

Heavy Air Laser Sailing with Marc Jacobi

Heavy Air Laser Sailing with Marc Jacobi - Reach and Downwind from Laser XD on Vimeo. Ride...

The America's Cup is Coming Home

Not Rowing in the Rain

Another entry today in this month's group writing project Top Sailing Destination on the Planet....

Lobster Roll

Thanks to Diabolo214 for this entry in our group writing project Top Sailing Destination on...

The Wine Dark Sea

One of the most gratifying things about this month's group writing project Top Sailing Destination...

J Fest San Francisco

At J Fest San Francisco held at the St. Francis Yacht Club from April 21-22, 20 J/105s were...

Scotch and Titanic

Two more entries today for this month's group writing challenge - Top Sailing Destination on...

U.S. Sailing Youth Champs – Laser Charter Information

West Coast Sailing is proud to support the 2012 U.S. Sailing Youth Championships! This event...

Play in May

A couple of years ago I participated in something called NaBloPoMo or National Blog Posting...

Mystic Clouds of Nostalgia

Gunkholing on Chesapeake Bay

Another entry today in this month's group writing project Top Sailing Destination on the Planet....

Round up the Usual Suspects

A few days ago, out of the kindness of my heart, I performed an act of public service to my...

Moth Porn

"It's cool, man. We get to fly."

The Wrist Starer

I was thinking of buying one of those fancy GPS watches to use when I'm running. Being an anal-retentive...

Gideon Sundback

The "relief" zipper on a drysuit is surely one of the greatest humanitarian inventions of the...

The Snodder

I received this email today which is apparently a response to my post about The Reset Button....

Tiller Extensions Float

2012 East Coast Championship at Cedar Point June 2-3

The East Coast Championship at Cedar Point YC (Westport, CT) promises to be the big eastern...

The Reset Button

Sometimes in sailing you need a "reset" button. There was a great post on the Laser forum...

Cork, Huron and Eustace

Here are three more entries in this month's group writing project Top Sailing Destination on...

RIP Bert Weedon 1920-2012

If you hadn't heard of him, Bert Weedon taught the guitar to Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Keith...

RIP Levon Helm 1940-2012

Familiar Waters

The first entry in our group writing project Top Sailing Destination on the Planet is from...

Poop

Over the last few years it has become apparent to me that some of my readers and fellow bloggers...

Warsash Spring Series

The second half of the Warsash Spring Series arrived on April 15 after a break for Easter....

Improper Course

There's been a thread on the Laser forum the last couple of days about an issue at some Laser...

Top Sailing Destination on the Planet

What, in your opinion, is the best sailing destination on the planet? In this month's group...

Race for the Case

Warm up for the Cedar Point Yacht Club's East Coast Championship at the Race for the Case...

Sail Over

Less than 100 days now to the 2012 Olympics. Things were a little different 104 years ago...

The Progression of Kayaking

Tillerman in Queensland?

Photo courtesy of problogger.net. I had a bit of fun back in January when Puma sent ten bloggers...

2012 Warsash Spring Series Update

The second half of the Warsash Spring Series arrived on 15th April after a break for Easter....

Running in the Heat

I am not good at running in hot weather. Today was a very hot day for the time of the year...

Annapolis NOOD - still time to register!

The Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD Regatta will take place from May 4-6 this year. So far,...

San Diego YC opening day

The San Diego YC opening day race with 18-28 knots at the start had the J/105 fleet salivating....

Tiller Extensions

Thought for the Day

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

What’s Happening at WCS – April 2012

Strictly Sail Pacific is certainly our big event of the month – but that does not mean it...

Summer Charters and Event Support

It’s never too early to start planning your summer sailing events. We’re privileged to...

New Builder… More Boats!

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with boat builder Zim Sailing. Based in Warren,...

Strictly Dinghies!

This April, West Coast Sailing will once again participate in Strictly Sail Pacific, the West...

Laser Sailing: The Rules

Laser Sailing: The Rules - by The Keepers We are the Keepers of the Vang. In so being, we...

Product Spotlight – Right-On Laser Trailer

With the Right-On Laser Trailer, everything is easier. No more muddy / sandy dolly tires in...

District 7 Laser Regattas 2012

It's that time of year again. Time to take a look at what Laser regattas are scheduled in our...

Trying

J/105 Chile Nationals

The Chilean J/105 fleet is growing quickly. Having formed just under two years ago, they may...

Yoga for Sailors

Should dinghy sailors do yoga? What are the benefits? A few days ago in Top Two Tips for Laser...

Taking a Penalty in Match Racing IV (MR04)

As promised this next instalment about penalties in Match Racing is taking one around the pin-end...

Great Bay Half Marathon 2012

There was no racing scheduled for my Laser frostbite fleet this weekend (something to do with...

(pillow)Case of the week (15/12) – 13

(This is an instalment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Case book 2009-2012 with amendments...

Fleet 3 Annual Meeting/Awards

Chesapeake J/105 Fleet 3 met at the Junior Sailing building to hold their annual meeting and...

Happy Easter From Little Bunny Foo Foo

Battle Shots

Thanks to Bowsprite for bringing my attention to this alcoholic variation on the old game of...

Final Score in LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

WE HAVE A WINNER! Scoring this final episode of our LTW 2012 Winter Challenge brought one...

Dinner with Ben Ainslie

First of all the answer to this week's photo quiz. Then the back story... In my Picture Quiz...

29th Philadelphia Laser Championship

When I lived in New Jersey, the Philadelphia Laser Championship (not in Philadelphia) was one...

Picture Quiz

What do these "people" have in common? Clue: this blog is about sailing. No, really it is.

Rule 18 in the AC34 Racing Rules of Sailing

Head over to www.cupexperience.com Great video explanation on rule 18 as changed by the America's...

Batavia Stad NK Match Racing 2012

We will have a National (open) Championship in Match Racing this year! Hooray! The last time...

The Stone is Swinging Today

Ranger and Velsheda Cross Paths at St Barths Bucket Regatta 2012

Taking a Penalty in Match Racing III; (MR03)

Right, as it is Tuesday I'm posting another piece about taking a penalty in Match Racing. This...

HYC Elissa

The Houston Yacht Club's Elissa Regatta, to support continuing maintenance and restorations...

Shameful

Absolutely disgusting story of discrimination against the famous quadriplegic yachtsman, Geoff...

Score 03/23 LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

Scoring Episode 03/13 has been based on the following criteria: Adequate facts found, leading...

(pillow)Case of the week (14/12) – 14

(This is an instalment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Case book 2009-2012 with amendments...

30 Reasons Why I Only Sailed 3 Races Today

It was perfect weather for sailing today in Newport. 10-15 knots out of the south. About 30...

Taking a Penalty in Match Racing II; (MR02)

In Match racing the penalties are less severe than in Fleet racing. That is to give the penalized...

Basic Needs

Guy on day 86 of his full return South Pole Expedition 2011/2012. He's quite hungry and about...

Seahawk Burning

When I was first asked to review Seahawk Burning by Randall Peffer, I was somewhat skeptical...

Product Spotlight – FSE Dinghy Control Line

If your rig needs a boost, FSE Dinghy Control line is for you. This lightweight line runs well...

Border Run

"The Border Run," that begins in Newport and heads to Dana Point (the Sprint course),...

International Rolex Regatta in the Caribbean

Winning by a mere half point in CSA 2 was Jonathan Lipuscek's (San Juan, PR) J/105 Dark...

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E03/30; Last Episode!

In all likelihood this will be the last in the series. Two contestants have a good chance to...

Top Two Tips for Laser Sailors

I have a question. If you have been reading this blog for any time you will know that I am...

Animation LTW 2012 Challenge 03/23

Almost forgot. Grey Bear's mail reminded me, fortunately. Here's the animation: Deadline...

ISAF Q&A-2012 L010

New on the ISAF Website, the second Q&A of 2012. It is about when a (IRC) certificate is...

The Knitting Sailor

It's always good to come across a new sailing blogger. Especially when it's someone with an...